Lie, Lie, Deny, Accuse, Win...

[FD2]

Russia and NZ in 'knock out brawl' over fishing vessel in protected Antarctic waters

On January 19 last year, a routine New Zealand surveillance flight over the Southern Ocean spotted a Russian-flagged ship called FV Palmer​ fishing in a marine protected area where fishing is banned by international agreement.

The Palmer's satellite tracker – officially called a “vessel monitoring system” or VMS​ – indicated the vessel was about 800 nautical miles (1500 kilometres) from that spot.



The vessel was “on a productive fishing feature, with an ice cage deployed, travelling at slow speed”, New Zealand said – evidence it was actually fishing and not simply transiting the area.

New Zealand called upon Russia to act against the Palmer. The United States backed New Zealand, calling the case “egregious” and “part of a pattern of illegal activity by this vessel”.



In reply, Russia took issue with the “so-called patrol” by the NZ aircraft on January 19. It said the metadata associated with the photos showed “traces of changes made on 20 January”.

Metadata normally includes information on the date, time, and longitude and latitude of the camera when photos were taken. Metadata is normally captured in the same instant as the image.

The United Kingdom said Russia’s words accused New Zealand of “falsifying evidence”.

The Russians also said “this example of aerial patrolling” did not comply with the CCAMLR inspection rules and the evidence of fishing “directly contradict[ed] the definition of fishing activity”. It had also inspected the Palmer’s VMS and found nothing wrong.

The United Kingdom “expressed disappointment at how this matter had been addressed by Russia”. The European Union noted Russia had not shared the Palmer’s VMS data as “requested repeatedly”.

Lie, lie, deny, accuse, win...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/300 ... tic-waters

[Pontius Navigator]

They should have arrested the hooker.

Admittedly that would be rather difficult and one where stealth and a trap might be needed. We had an operation where a Nimrod arrested a Spanish vessel. It remained on task, gathered evidence, and guided a Fisheries Inspection Vessel to apprehend the illegal. Hot pursuit was permitted had they made a run for it.

On another occasion the British waters were only 40 miles wide between French and Irish water and the Spaniard thought he had got away. As it happened the RN was trialling a Boeing jetlfoil, HMS Speedy, and at 40 kts soon caught him.

Next time, if the MPA finds the illegal they should mount an operation to keep it under continuous surveillance and vector patrol vessel. Given the size of the area they would need to have a ship on station and mount an air operation within 12-24 hours to shadow until arrested.

[TheGreenGoblin]

The Russians are as bad as any other outfit illegally fishing for Patagonian Sawfish down in those waters!

https://www.independent.co.uk/environme ... 02157.html

[FD2]

PN: Yes that would be ideal and also to find out how they hacked the VMS, but it's a long way down and to have an intercept vessel near enough it would, I think, have to switch off its transponder and practise a little subterfuge. Having another aircraft on standby to take over until a ship arrives would be ideal but the RNZAF is using a few old Orions at present, so perhaps that's possible.

When the Poseidons are in service they may be able to catch some of the varmints, also the ones that GG mentions, in a combined operation. Whether Vlad would be bothered or not I'm not sure!

[Pontius Navigator]

FD2, I was thinking more along the lines of setting up for starting the operation the following day as given the size the illegal would probably still be on the exclusion area.

Also, as the area is international, it could perhaps be an international effort.

[TheGreenGoblin]

FD2, I was thinking more along the lines of setting up for starting the operation the following day as given the size the illegal would probably still be on the exclusion area.

Also, as the area is international, it could perhaps be an international effort.

Almost certainly needs to be international. This book describes the excellent collaboration between the Australians, South Africans and the British in the case I noted previously.

Hooked : pirates, poaching and the perfect fish - by American author Bruce Knecht.

[FD2]

PN and GG - international sounds a good idea. Will look at the book.